Kenya’s National Council for Children Services (NCCS) is preparing to transition children from children’s homes to families and communities. The council is involving key stakeholders, including government officials, religious leaders, elders, and community members, to develop care reforms for a smooth transition. The government is considering closing all existing private children’s homes and establishing public children’s rescue centres to combat child trafficking. As of November 2022, there are 45,000-50,000 children living in 855 private charitable children’s institutions and others in government-run institutions. NCCS Chief Executive Officer Abdinoor Mohamed said the new childcare reforms align with the global shift from institutional care to homecare. The plan includes foster care, kinship care, adoption, Kafalah, and supported independent living. The government will monitor progress and provide psychological preparations before releasing children into their new families and communities. Bishop Bernard Kariuki emphasized the importance of parental love and care for children growing up, urging relatives to raise them within their communities.
The Kenya Meteorological Department predicts that most areas of Kiambu County will receive rainfall between 10mm and 100mm this week. The forecast is valid from Tuesday, 17th, to Monday, 23rd, 2023, with areas like Kikuyu, Limuru West, and Ruiru Sub-Counties expected to receive 10mm cumulatively. The county is working on clearing drainage systems and unclogging blocked ones ahead of El Niño rains. The County’s Environment and Water CEC, David Kuria, is spearheading efforts to improve drainage systems. Departments and sector heads in Agriculture, Livestock Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Water, Irrigation and Sanitation, Energy, Disaster Management, Health, Transport, and Public Safety sectors are addressing both positive and negative impacts of El Nino rains. The rainfall forecasts for the October–December 2023 season infer a likely wetter-than-normal season due to the positive status of the El Nino phenomenon and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
The ICT Authority (ICTA) held a sensitization forum for over 150 accredited suppliers from the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) and delegates from six counties. The forum aimed to build capacity and improve product standards to ensure a quality supply of ICT goods and services to governments. The training focused on aligning businesses with the required ICT standards for better investment opportunities. The forum also allowed suppliers to showcase their technological solutions and exchange experiences on sectoral developments. The ICT Authority CEO, Mr. Stanley Kamanguya, called on suppliers to comply with market standards while offering services that give the government value for money and improve local product standards. The Authority has developed 12 ICT standards to streamline goods and service delivery. Baringo County Director for ICT, Mr. Godfrey Chesang, called for collaboration between the national government, county governments, and ICT suppliers in developing the sector. The ICT Authority released its third review of the ICT Standards for governments, which can be used by suppliers to ensure compliance with required standards.
Zhende Medical Co. Ltd., a leading international company specialising in disposable medical devices, will build production facilities in Tatu City, Kenya, a 5,000-acre Special Economic Zone. The Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed company plans to invest Sh26.9 billion (USD 180 million) in Kenya, employing 7,000 Kenyans, export goods worth Sh45.2 billion (USD 320 million) annually, and expand its distribution of critical medical supplies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Full Care Medical, Zhende’s Kenya subsidiary, will become the largest medical device manufacturer and distributor in East Africa. The International Finance Corporation provided USD 100 million in financing for Zhende’s Africa expansion. The location at Tatu Industrial Park is the largest light manufacturing and logistics zone in East Africa, offering low corporate taxes, import duty exemptions, zero-rated VAT, and zero withholding tax.
Thirty youths from Laikipia County have completed a three-month training programme called Ujuzi Manyattani, which aims to equip them with skills to start income-generating ventures. The programme, facilitated by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), targets illiterate youth from pastoralist communities and those with limited literacy skills. The training focuses on tailoring, dressmaking, hairdressing, beauty therapy, and motorcycle mechanics. The programme has had a significant impact on pastoralist areas, transforming young men from cattle rustling and banditry into entrepreneurs.
Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, makers of Fresha milk products, plans to export 250,000 litres of milk per month to international markets, including Oman, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. The society has dispatched 113,750 litres of UHT milk, which will increase as the market improves. The society’s chairman, George Kinuthia, attributed the shortage of milk to the rise in fuel products and the increased cost of production. The society’s net asset position was at Sh 3.14 billion as of June 30th, 2023. The society’s share capital increased from Sh 589.1 million to Sh 607.9 million. The society also recorded a slight growth in membership, increasing milk collection to 265,000 litres every day, up from 236,000 litres of milk last year.
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